Combined rudder and fender.



M. VASSALAKIS.

COMBINED RUDDER AND FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1913.

1,091,027. Patented Mar. 24, 1914.

2 SHEETS--SHEET l.

MaRKosVesSaLmqs @vi/tweeen COLUMNA FLANDGRAPH co.,\vAsHlNGTON. D. c.

M. VASSALAKIS.

COMBINED RUDDBR AND FENDER.

APPLICATION FILED .TUNE 9, 1913.

1,091,027 4 Patented M124, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Mue/Moz MARKOSVASSALH ms COLUMNA PLANOURAPH c0.,wAs!-nNuTON, D, c.

MARKUS VASSALAKIS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT 0F COLUMBIA.

coivieinnn nunnnn AND FENDER.

Specification of Letters Patent. 24, 1914.

1,091,027. Patented Mar.

Application filed. I une 9, 1913. Serial No. 772,633.

is a side elevation of the inner members of the device showing the plate-like sections and hull of a boat in connection therewith, in dotted lines. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the plate-like sections of the device removed from the remaining portions thereof and disclosing in dotted lines the position of said sections as they would be when the same collided with an obstruction or ship. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a slightly To all whom t may concern:

Marinos VAssALAnis, Greece, residing at in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new an useful 1mprovements in Comb d Fenders, of which the following is a-specif'ication, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ships an more particumodified form of the invention. larly to a combined rudder and fender for Fig. 9 is a horizontal section through this ships an other small craft and my obiect' modified form of the device, taken on a is to provide a device of this character which plane just above the springs used in this form of the device. Fig. 10 is a similar view taken on a plane below the plane o springs removed.

side elevation of having certain parts-removed. Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view partly in section, o *one of the spring members used in this form of the device. Fig. 13 is a horizontal section through the device, showing the manner of hingedly supporting the plate-like sections in position in oth forms of the device. Fig. 14 is a lan view partly in section o a means for securing the support to the is applicable to the bow of the boat to steer the same and simultaneously act as a fender or bumper therefor in case of emergency.

A further object of the invention resides in providing a device compose of a plurality of plate-like sections hinged one tov the other and suitab from the bow of the boat and a still further object-resides in providing sprin means in connection with certain of the plate-like sections to normally retain the same in operative position an a the same time, act as a buer at such times as the boat carrying the device collides with other Ships 0r Obstructions met m the path late-like sections on the ship and also disthereof. closing the means for operating the rudder Still another object of the invention rein both forms of the device. Fig. 15 is a deameans for operating certail section partly in elevation showing a sides in providing tain of the plate-like sections so that the supporting means for the device, as used in same may act as a ru er for the ship both forms thereof. Fig. 16 is a horizontal section as seen on line 16-16, Fig. 1, it being understood that'this structure is also used in connection with the modified form. Fig. 17 is a diagrammatic view of the device, as applied Fig. 18 is a similar view showing t e evice in a position same meets with an obstruction in the path of the ship carrying the same. v

describing my carrying the same and a still further obj ect resides in providing a device which is simp e and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture d one which will be very efficient and useful in operation.

With these and other objects in view, invention consists in the novel features o construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referre to and more particularly pointe out in the 1n 1 shall refer which similar reference invention,

specification and claims. to the drawings in I In the accompanying drawings forming'a characters designate corresponding parts part of this application, Figure 1 is a side throughout the several viewsan in which 1 indicates a ship of any desired character, to the bow of which is applied my improved invention which comprisesa combined rudder and fender or bumper therefor. Secured to the bow, at the upper and lower ends thereof, are the bearings 2, in which is mounted to rotate therein a shaft 3, to the upperend of which is connected a cross arm L1 having the ends thereof engaged device showing the same apelevation of the saine in showing the device p that it would,.if the boat collided with an obstruction or other ship. Fig. 4 is a horizontal section as H, 1. Fig. 5 is a simiseen on line lar view as seenvon line 5-5 Fig. 1. Fig. 6

, section VB of t e device. Tiisstructure is socket 16, at the u per portion thereof is offset to provide a shoulder 17 and a forwardly ent arm 18 is loose y pivoted between the side faces of said bearing 15.

he loose pivot is provided, through the medium of a piiiand-slot connection and o the above referred to shaft 3 is co the lower end of this arm 18 is adapted to a chain 19 engaged therewith, which de- 75 pends' between the plate-like sections of my improved device and has branch connections at its lower end, asshown at 20, to be engaged with the inner faces of the inner 8. oosely mounted on the shaft 3, at preetermin ed points on the upper half thereof,

faces of the inner plate sections of the upper section A o t ie device. Pivotally mounted lat predetermined points on the lower half of the shaft 3 are'the additional strap hinges 10, said latter hinges being also suitably secured to the inner faces of the `1 inner plate-like sections 7 forming the lower direction. Should the ship meet an obstruction, however, and the arm 18 be forced rearwardly, the lower end of said arm will e relieved of its contact with the shoulder 7 and drop downwardly into the socket 16 to be out of possible engagement with the obstruction met and thus avoid possible declearly disclosed in Fig. 6 of the drawings. struction of the same.

he outer plate-like sections 7 of the uption, as a rudder, is entirely independent of the upper section of the device and the operationof the lower section in one direction or the other on the shaft 3 will not affect the position of said upper section. Also mounted loosely on the upper half of the shaft 3 is aL clampingmember or the like 11, which vided with tongues or straps 21 which are 9.5

Thus, in the normal position of the device, the outer hinged plate sections 7 will be re` 100 tained closely to the sides of the vessel andl will e properly supported thereagainst.

like section of the upper section A and the other spring' has similar contact with the inner face of the other inner plate-like section 7 of said upper section A. he contact of these springs 12 with the inner plate sections of the pairs of hinged sections 7, is adjacent the shaft 3, thus causing the inner sections of the pairs of plate sections 7 upon themselves, as shown at 24 to provide 105 shoulders or the like against which the free ends of said straps or tongues may rest when the outer plate-like sections 7 are drawn forwardly at the time the device meets an obstruction. This structure is clearly shown in in this figure, is shown the position of the tongues or straps in engagement with the aforesaid shoulders on theangular brackets.

ie shaft 3 has a clamping rm@ 18 115 pair of arms 19 extending therefrom in op` e free ends of which loosely contact with posite directions. These arms 19 are conthe shaft 8. The normal tendency of this nected by the flexible connections 20 to the vinner faces of the inner plate sections 7 of 120 t e. ower section B of the evice. These doing, the inner pair o plate sections 7 of the lower section B will diverge rearwardly and outwardly, as the similar plates in the upper section A. Y n

ounted on the deck of the ship 1, immediately adjacent the bow thereof, is a bearing l5, the base of which is provided withY a socket: V16. The rear wall of the From the above description, it will be-a 125 partsis such as to dispose the upper and lower sections A and B of the device in substantial alinement, one with the other, rthe innerY hinged plate sections 7 converging for- 130 which are hinged directly on wardly and the outer plate sections clinging closely to the sides of the vessel, adjacent the bow. It will also be understood that this position of the device is a normal one, under tension of the springs.- It will be seen, however, that the lower section B forms a rudder for the device and may be operated directly from the shaft 3, it being understood that the latter shaft may be operated from the pilot wheel 6, from the means heretofore described and shown in the drawings. The operation of this lower section B, or rudder of the device is entirely independent of the operation of the upper section A and the oscillation of said shaft 3, in one direction or the other will not affect the parts in connection with the upper section A, inasmuch as said latter parts are loosely mounted on said shaft 3. It will be seen, however, that in case the device meets an obstruction, both the upper and lower sections A and B will act as fenders or bumpers for the device and the tapering o-r converging position of the plate-like sections of said sections A and B will yield against the tension of the springs 12 and 14 to ass'ume a position as shown in Figs. 3 and 18 of the drawings. In such position, the outer plate-like sections 7 of the device will be turned somewhat forwardly and the waves washing inwardly against the sides of the ship will force the same inwardly and thus the tongues or straps 21 will assume the position as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 16, i. e., in engagement with the shoulder 24C. Thus a stop is provided, but as soon as the contact of the obstruction with the bow of the boat is released, the springs 12 and 14 will again act to force outwardly on the shafts 8 and 8, whereby the device may assume its normal and initial position. This position is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 17 of the drawings.

In Figs. 8 to 12 inclusive, I have shown a slightly modified form of the invention and in this form, a shaft 25 is provided and suitably mounted in bearings 26 which are adapted to be secured to the bow of a boat at its upper and lower ends. The upper end of this shaft 25 is adapted to be connected with the steering mechanism, as described in the first mentioned form and pivotally mounted on said shaft, adjacent its upper and lower ends, are the strap hinges 27. These strap hinges are adapted to support from the shaft 25, the modified form of my device proper, which consists of pairs of hinged together plate sections 28, each pair being in turn hinged to a shaft 29. This device is particularly applicable to small craft and the plate sections 28 are adapted to extend for substantially the vfull height of the bow of the boat and the outer ends of the strap hinges 27 are pivotally engaged with the inner faces of the inner plate sections 28, the shaft 29.

The device proper is, therefore, suitably supported from the shaft 25.

Mounted on the shaft 25, at a predeterV mined point thereon, is a ring member or the like 80 which has a pair of arms 31 formed thereon, projecting in opposite directions and connected to the free ends of these arms are the chains 32, which also engage hook members or the like on the inner faces of the inner plate sections 28. With the turning of the shaft 25, it is obvious that the inner plate sections 28 will also be turned therewith, in view of the fiexible connections 32.

Secured to the shaft 25 just below the arms 31, is a clamping member 33 which retains in position, a pair of arcuate leaf springs 34:. The free ends of these leaf springs contact loosely with the inner faces of the inner plate sections 28, as do the springs 12 of the first mentioned form and force said inner plate sections forwardly and act as buffers or bumpers for said plate sections, when the latter are forced inwardly. An additional and central arcuate leaf spring 35 is also carried by t-he clamping member 33 and the free ends thereof are secured to the shaft 29. This leaf spring forces the apex of the member forwardly and normally retains said member in such a position as to dispose the inner plate sections to a forwardly converging position. In this form of the device, the means for retaining the outer plate sections to the sides of the boat are the same as in the first mentioned form. In this modified form of the device, it will be seen` that the complete device forms a com bined rudder and bumper or fender for the boat and the turning of the shaft 25, in one direction or the other will positively turn the complete device in the desired direction. At the same time, should the boat, having this device applied thereto, come in contact with a ship or other obstruction, the forward portion of the device will be compressed against the tension of the springs 34 and 35 and theshock will be retarded and partially absorbed thereby and complete injury to the bow of the boat avoided.

From the foregoing description of the construction of my improved device, the operation thereof will be readily understood and it will be seen that I have provided a device which will positively carry out the purpose for which the same is designed.

It will further be seen that the device is simple and durable in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and one which will be very efficient and useful in operation.

While I have particularly described the elements best adapted to perform the functions set forth, it is obvious that various changes in form, proportion and in the minor details of construction may be rel sorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the principles of the invention.

Having thus described this invention, what is claimed is y l. A deviecf the class described comprising a collapsible frame fo-rmed of an upper and lower section, each section being composed of a plurality of plates hinged one to the other, means to operatively support the sections of said frame on the bow of a boat, means in connection with portions of the sections of said frame to yieldingly dispose the same in a predetermined position, and means for actuating one of said sections independent of the other, whereby to form a rudder for the boat.

2. A device of the class described comprising a collapsible frame formed of a plurality of plate-like sections hinged one to the other, said frame being divided into an upper and lower section operable independent of one another, means to operatively support the sections of said frame on the bow of a boat, spring means in connection with certain of the plate-like sections of the upper and lower sections of said collapsible fr ame to dispose the same in forwardly converging position, and means for operating the lower section of the collapsible frame independent ofthe upper section thereof.

3. A device of the class described compris ing a collapsible frame formed of an upper and lower section, each composed of a plurality of plates hinged one to the other,

y means for operatively supporting said frame on the bow of a boat, spring means in connection with the inner hinged plates of the upper and lower sections to dispose the same in forwardly converging position, means to movably retain the outer hinged plates to the sides of the boat, immediately adjacent the bow, and means for actuating the lower section of the frame independent of the upper section thereof, whereby to form a rudder for the boat.

4. A device of the class described comprising a collapsible frame forlned of an upper and lower section, each composed of a plurality of plates hinged one to the other, means for operatively supporting the sections of said frame on the bow of a boat, spring means in connection with the inner iinged plates of the upper section to retain the same in forward converging position, additional spring means in connection with the lower section to normally dispose the inner plate sections of the latter in alining position with the similar plates of the upper section, means in connection with the outer hinged plates of said upper and lower sections to movably support the same against the sides of the boat, immediately adjacent the bow thereof, and means to actuate the lower section of the frame independent-ly of the upper section thereof, whereby to form a rudder for the boat.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses. MARKOS VASSALAKIS. lVitnesses CHRISTIAN DENNISON, CHAS. M. BIRGKHEAD:

E Copies of this patent may be obtained for nve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti. Washington, D. C. 

